“National experts offering practical solutions for elder law attorneys, professionals & advisors.”

Jonathan Blattmachr, JD, is a Principal in Pioneer Wealth Partners, LLC, an independent wealth management firm that offers a comprehensive suite of advisory services to high net worth clients and families. Mr. Blattmachr brings over 35 years of experience in trusts and estates law. He is a retired member of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy and the Alaska, California and New York Bars. Mr. Blattmachr has been recognized as one of the country’s most creative trusts and estates lawyers. He writes and lectures extensively on estate and trust taxation and charitable giving and has authored or coauthored six books and over 500 articles on estate planning topics. He has served as a lecturer-in-law of the Columbia University School of Law and as an Adjunct Professor of Law at New York University Law School in its Masters in Tax Program (LLM). He is a former chairperson of the Trusts & Estates Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and of several committees of the American Bar Association. Mr. Blattmachr is a Fellow and a former Regent of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and past chair of its Estate and Gift Tax Committee. Among professional activities, Mr. Blattmachr has served as an Advisor on The American Law Institute, Restatement of the Law, Trusts 3rd; and as a Fellow and Director of The New York Bar Foundation and as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Mr. Blattmachr graduated from Columbia University School of Law cum laude, where he was recognized as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and received his A.B. degree from Bucknell University, majoring in mathematics. Mr. Blattmachr served on active duty in the United States Army, reaching the rank of captain, and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.

Bernard A. Krooks is a founding partner of the law firm Littman Krooks LLP and Chair of its Elder Law and Special Needs Department. Mr. Krooks is a nationally-recognized expert in all aspects of elder law and special needs planning. Mr. Krooks is past President of the Special Needs Alliance, a national, invitation-only, notfor-profit organization dedicated to assisting families with special needs planning. He is past President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), a Fellow of NAELA, past Chair of the NAELA Tax Section and past Editor-in-Chief of the NAELA News. In addition, he is certified as an Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the National Elder Law Foundation and is an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) (Distinguished) Nominee. He is a founding member and past President of the New York Chapter of NAELA. In 2008, he received the Chapter’s Outstanding Achievement Award for his lifelong work on behalf of seniors and those with disabilities. In 2007, his firm received the NYSARC employer of the year award for employing people with disabilities. In 2011, his firm received the Family Friendly Employment Policy Award from the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. Mr. Krooks is past Chair of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and past Editor-in-Chief of the Elder Law Attorney, the newsletter of the NYSBA Elder Law Section. He also is a member of the Trusts and Estates Law Section and Tax Section of the NYSBA. Mr. Krooks co-authors (1) a chapter in the NYSBA publication Guardianship Practice in New York State entitled “Creative Advocacy in Guardianship Settings: Medicaid and Estate Planning, Including Transfer of Assets, Supplemental Needs Trusts & Protection of Disabled Family Members.”; and (2) the NYSBA publication Elder Law, Special Needs Planning and Will Drafting. He is chair of the elder law committee of the editorial advisory board of Trusts & Estates Magazine, and serves on the editorial boards of Exceptional Parent Magazine, and Leimberg Information Services.

David Silva is the Assistant Director of the Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program (EFLRP) at New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG). Founded in 1990, NYLAG provides high quality, free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers who cannot afford attorneys. Our comprehensive range of services includes direct representation, case consultation, advocacy, community education, training, financial counseling, and impact litigation. For over ten years as part of Selfhelp Community Services, and now as part of NYLAG, the Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program helps low-income elderly people navigate the maze of benefits and bureaucracies with the goal of maintaining their independence. David provides training, advice, and representation on matters involving Medicare (including the Part D drug program), Medicaid homecare and financial eligibility, SSI/SSD, housing, and planning for incapacity. EFLRP also co-maintains a knowledgebase of public health insurance articles at http://nyhealthaccess.org. David is an adjunct professor of law at Cardozo School of Law, teaching the Health Reform Field Clinic. Before joining Selfhelp, David was a Legal Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, working on election reform and media consolidation issues. He graduated from Cardozo School of Law in 2005 and is admitted to practice in New York State. You can reach him at EFLRP@nylag.org or (212) 613-7310.